Christ Church

Yesterday, Father Brad shared how God calls believers toward perfection not as immediate faultless performance but as an ongoing, compassionate work of restoration and mending—enabled by Christ's grace so imperfect people can be used for God’s purpose.

Perfectionism is not attainable. Father Brad tried through his seminary years and found there is a real burden when trying to be flawless by self-effort. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount raises the standard: "Be perfect," a real but demanding call. However, the Great Commission shows God sends imperfect disciples into mission and promises to be with them.

Paul’s letters to Corinth reveal a messy, struggling church—yet Paul prays for their perfection/restoration.The Greek idea of perfection here is restorative: God mends, repairs, and restores believers.God uses unlikely, flawed people (e.g., David, Jonah, Elijah, Solomon, Gomer, Sarah) to accomplish his purposes— real people, not superhumans.

The sermon closes with the Trinitarian benediction "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all," and the practical call to love one another, strangers, and enemies, and to live in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.